Coinbase adds former Bill Clinton aide, Supreme Court lawyer to board

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has bolstered its board of directors with three new appointments, including a senior OpenAI executive who served as a political strategist to United States President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. 

In a July 25 statement, Coinbase said it had appointed Chris Lehane as one of 10 directors on its board.

Lehane served as Clinton’s Democrat strategist in 1992, shortly before Clinton began his two-term tenure as US President between 1993 and 2001.

He also played a crucial role in helping home-sharing marketplace Airbnb become a legal operator in all 50 US states and throughout the world. Lehane serves as Vice President of Public Works at OpenAI.

“With countries around the world developing new rules that embrace crypto’s potential to update the financial system, Chris will provide strategic counsel to Coinbase’s leadership as the company works to make onchain the new online,” said Coinbase.

Lehane was already a member of Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council prior to joining Coinbase’s board.

Two other directors are joining the board, including Christa Davies, the former chief financial officer of management consulting firm Aon, and Paul Clement, a former partner at law firm Clement and Murphy and a former solicitor general for the Bush administration.

Davies served as chief financial officer at Microsoft’s platforms and services division, will serve on Coinbase’s audit and compliance committee and support the firm’s financial operations.

Clement, whose former law firm specialized in litigation, has been one of the most frequently appearing attorneys before the US Supreme Court this century — having argued over 100 cases.

His services could prove useful to Coinbase’s ongoing legal battle with the US securities regulator.

Clement also served as US Solicitor General to President George W. Bush during his two-term tenure between 2001 and 2009.

He will also assist Coinbase’s audit and compliance committee with Davies.

All three new Coinbase board members are confident that digital assets can improve financial inclusion for everyone — particularly marginalized groups. Lehane added:

“I am excited to support Coinbase as they continue to advocate for the 52 million Americans who own crypto (over-indexing on young people of color) and work to democratize the benefits of capitalism so more people can keep their fair share of the economic pie.”